Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.** Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)**
The wise man wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (NIV): “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?’” Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (NIV). He then ends his diatribe with this in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV): “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Solomon here is stating the true judgment of all things under the sun.
Man’s great desire is happiness yet it is folly for us to think it can be obtained by all the glitz and glamor of this fleeting world. Yet we continue to pursue pleasures and riches and earthly honors and awards thinking they will fully satisfy these craving hearts of ours - and they are all found wanting more and more. If the richest and wisest man to ever live – who indulged in all of this folly – yet still came up with vanity, we certainly don’t need to be seeking them for sufficiency either. It is much better to learn in a classroom than on a field trip of our own poor choices, Amen? They will all be found as leaky cisterns that cannot hold the Living Water. We expect more from them than they are able to yield.
C.T. Studd wrote: “Only one life this too shall pass, only what’s done for Christ will last.” We are so prone to look down and in and not up, right? We get so caught up with the world and all its doings. We consider the “glitz” as our goal in lieu of things to be used in our pilgrimage down here. The vanity is not in the object rather the affection for it. The “things” of this world should point us to the Giver of every good and perfect gift. He bestows things for our enjoyment not for our worship. And there is a huge difference. No earthly pleasure can free us from our cares and crosses nor comfort us in our hour of death, They are much better in show than in substance. In Him alone is true rest and satisfaction. Remember, whatever God has made is good but when it is considered the greatest good it turns into vanity. Never seek to stuff your houses by neglecting your soul.
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21 (NIV)